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Football rules quiz: Tricky plays where making the call and catch not always easy

Wichita Falls Times Record News
Published 1:31 a.m. CT Nov. 1, 2018

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Longtime Wichita Falls area official Lee Grace talks about the benefits of the referee having a microphone to explain penalties to the crowd and for officials to be wired up to communicate with each other.
Wochit

Here are some interesting plays which have come up recently in a variety of situations to test your football rules knowledge.

Play One – On fourth down and 5 yards to go, the running back takes a handoff and runs off tackle for 4 yards. After the tackle, a defensive linebacker dives into the ball carrier. What is the result of this play?

Answer – Since the ball carrier did not make the line to gain, possession of the football goes over on downs. The opponent is penalized 15 yards for a dead-ball late-hit personal foul. It will be first and 10 after the penalty.

Play Two – On fourth down and 10, the offense punts. The kicked football is caught by the receiver who runs 5 yards, is hit and fumbles. A kicking team player recovers the loose football. On the ready-for-play signal, does the referee wind the clock or does the game clock start on the snap?

Answer – After a turnover on a kick play, the game clock will always start for the next play from scrimmage on the snap.

Play Three – From his opponent’s 35-yard line, the quarterback drops back to pass and hits the split end with a perfect pass for a touchdown. But wait, there is a yellow flag in the backfield for holding by an offensive lineman. After the 10-yard penalty, does the game clock start on the ready-for-play signal or on the snap?

Answer – When there is a foul by the offensive team on a play where they score a touchdown, the game clock will always start for the next play on the snap.

Play Four – On a kickoff, the kicker attempts an onside kick by driving the football into the ground so that it hits once and bounces high into the air. An alert receiving team player signals for a fair catch while the football is still several feet above his head. He catches the football at his team’s 48-yard line. Is it a legal play to call for a fair catch after the football has been kicked into the ground?

Answer – Yes, in this one situation, because the football only hit the ground once before bouncing high into the air, the receiver can legally signal for a fair catch.

Play Five – On a high, short punt, the receiver signals for a fair catch. The football bounces high off of his shoulder pad and he moves 3 yards to complete the catch. Does he still have protection while attempting to make the catch a second time? Where is the football next put into play?

Answer – When a player signals for a fair catch and the football is muffed into the air, he still has an unimpeded opportunity to complete the catch. If he completes the catch, the football will next be put in play at the spot where he first touched the football.

Grace is a member of the North Texas Chapter of the Texas Association of Sports Officials. Email your rules questions to him at lee@955espn.com. Listen to his “You Make the Call” weekdays at 9:57 a.m. and 3:27 p.m. on 95.5 FM ESPN.